Council of Deans- Minutes
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Location: Administration Board Room
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Members and Staff Representatives present:
Ronna Vanderslice, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sylvia Burgess, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Marge Kingsley, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
John Camey, Dean, School of Business
Howard Kuchta, Interim Dean, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Von Underwood, Dean, School of Liberal Arts
Terry Conley, Dean, School of Science and Technology
Susan Camp, Director, CU-Duncan
Karla Oty, Director, Institutional Research, Assessment, and Accountability
Sherry Young, Director, Library Services
Linda Phillips, Registrar
Mandy Husak, Academic Affairs Coordinator
Vinetta Stanton, Educational Project Specialist
Members and Staff Representatives absent:
Debbie Goode, Director, Information Technology Services
Agenda and Notes
 Approval of Council of Deans Minutes – February 5, 2014 Meeting (Handout) – Approved.
 Discussion Items:
1. Degree Works Update — Comments about Degree Works include there were a few access
issues that have been fixed, students love it, it’s not too late to receive training.
2. Early Alert Data usage and discussion of how the Business office uses the data — If a student
doesn’t show up in the first week of class, they should be receiving an early alert. Encourage
faculty to use it so that we can identify students who aren’t attending classes.
The Business Office goes in through Early Alert to verify that students are actually attending
classes before granting loans to first-time freshman students. If faculty record absences in
Early Alert it will help with that process.
3. Evaluation of Deans and Department Chairs — The Deans and Directors received their
evaluation documents for distribution to their departments.
4. Teaching and Learning Update — There have been discussions within Top 30 about a pilot
interdisciplinary exchange; 12 faculty on Top 30 have volunteered to participate.
April 18th – tentative date for faculty development session on High Impact Learning.
5. Spring break coverage — Deans and Directors can transfer phones, hang signs on the door to
direct people to where they can go for assistance.
A concern was expressed that in a particular building only one person would be working on
some of the days.
Another concern was that new employees were receiving handouts which state that they get
the entire week off. It is believed that this information is also posted online.
VP Vanderslice stated that the policy is that administrative offices must remain open.
6. Wingspan and staff evaluations — Wingspan is a different process than we’re used to for
staff evaluations. There is now a goal setting aspect. Supervisors set a minimum of 3 goals
for staff – can write them or come up with them together with the employee.
There is also a self-assessment component which supervisors can require employees to
complete.
Some deans and directors stated that summer is an easier time to start the new process since it
is a less busy period. VP Vanderslice acknowledged that this is true. She will discuss with
HR the purpose of the timing.
7. Discussion of Homecoming Events — Office of Alumni Relations wanted the departments to
be more involved with alumni that might attend the Homecoming events. Some departments
held various events for alumni including a holding a reception and having an alumni speaker.
The luncheon for the retired faculty at Cameron House was very well-received.
The Golf Cart parade was a good event but some were concerned about the timing of the
event.
8. Discussion of Preview Days/School Showcases — most expressed that they like it better than
the Saturday event, departments enjoyed the mutual exchange between staff and students, the
practical activities engaged the students, departments wished they had more time with the
students.
9. Request for initiatives — Items submitted are a heads up for what might come - doesn’t
commit you to it. A letter of intent still has to be submitted. VP Vanderslice needs the budget
items before the end of the month. Updates can be submitted later on.
 Highlights:
1. Cameron University’s Speech and Debate team claimed victory at the recent Oklahoma
Intercollegiate Forensic Association’s state tournament. Cameron’s team emerged as the
tournament champion in Overall Sweepstakes and won the state championship in both the
Debate Sweepstakes and the Combined (Debate and Individual Event) Sweepstakes. They
defeated opponents from 17 schools.
2. Dean Conley was elected to a position in the national organization, Council on
Undergraduate Research (CUR) and will serve a three year term starting July 1, 2014.
 Reminders:
1. Please remind Chairs and faculty about the fantastic Merlot materials available and ask that
they also distribute the word to students. Membership in Merlot is free.
2. Cameron University Library and Lawton Area Reading Council are sponsoring storytelling
sessions for elementary school children. Complete information is at
http://www.cameron.edu/media-releases2014/David-Titust
 Important Dates:
 Council of Chairs – 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014
 Council of Deans – 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2014
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Regents Meeting Dates (for curriculum proposal purposes)
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The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
 March 6, 2014
 April -24, 2014
 May 30, 2014
 June 26, 2014
 September 3-4, 2014
 October 22-23, 2014
 November 6, 2014
 December 3-4, 2014
March 5, 2014 – Budget Request Summaries due to the Business Office
March 5, 2014 – 1st 8 week classes end
March 7, 2014 – 2014 Oklahoma Research Day
March 7, 2014 – Final grades posted by 4:00 p.m. for 1st 8 week classes
March 7, 2014 – 2nd 8 week classes begin
March 7, 2014 – Mid-term grades for 16 week classes posted by 4 p.m.
March 7 and March 8, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. – Opera workshop entitled “Opera Goes to the
Movies” at McCutcheon Recital Hall.
March 11, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. – Public Awareness Seminar on Human Trafficking sponsored
by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Cameron University and SWAHEC, and the
Comanche County Multidisciplinary Team.
March 14, 2014 – All adjuncts teaching 2nd 8 weeks (S8 position suffix) and all full-time
faculty should be locked by the appropriate Dean/Supervisor and all 2nd 8 week payroll action
forms submitted to the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m.
March 14, 2014 – Service Learning Conference in Oklahoma City
March 15, 2014 – Department chairs schedule a conference with each faculty member to
discuss the chair’s appraisal of the faculty member’s performance for that evaluation cycle.
Department chair and faculty member sign Appraisal. Chair sends a copy of the Appraisal
completed by the faculty member and chair along with the Annual Plan and other
documentation (if any) to the Dean.
March 17-23, 2014 – Spring Break
March 24, 2014 – Final Reminder for students to complete National Survey of Student
Engagement (NSSE). Students who complete survey by April 4 will be entered into a
drawing to win one of two iPad Minis.
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March 24, 2014– Request for Initiatives due
March 25, 2014 – Enrollment begins
March 31, 2014 – Commencement and Graduation Fair
March 31, 2014 – Dean evaluations due to VPAA; Chair evaluations due to Deans
April 1, 2014 – Wingspan go-live
April 1, 2014 – Deadline to apply for graduation
April 8, 2014 – Annual Service Awards Banquet
April 9, 2014 – Last date to withdraw with an Automatic "W" for 16 week classes
April 10-11, 2014 – 2014 Scholars Summit at Cameron University in the CETES Conference
Center
April 11, 2014 – Annual CU Interscholastic Contest
April 11, 2014 – Mid-term grades for 2nd 8 week classes posted by 4:00 p.m.
April 15, 2014 – Dean returns a copy of brief comments about the completed Annual
Academic Performance Review to department chair and each faculty member.
April 21, 2014 – Deadline to apply for British Studies Program
April 23, 2014 – Last date to withdraw from a class (with signature) for 16 week classes
April 23, 2014 – Last date to withdraw with an Automatic “W” for 2nd 8 week classes
April 30, 2014 – Last date to withdraw from a class with signature for 2nd 8 week classes
May 2-9, 2014 – Final Exams
May 9, 2014 – Commencement
May 13, 2014 – Final Grades posted by 4:00 p.m.
May 14, 2014 – Performance appraisals due